A.I.I. News
04.12.2010 - [Softball]
Erin Sutter
Erin Sutter
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican softball team finished strong recording back-to-back victories in the final day of competition at the Bethel Invitational in Mishawaka, Indiana.  The Panthers faced Calumet College of St. Josephs (IN) in the final two games of the tournament and finished the tournament with a record of 2-2.
 

The Panthers, looking to bounce back from a disappointing first day of competition, took the early lead in game one as Jennifer Baker (Jr./Cortland, OH) led off the game with a single through the left side.  She would eventually score on Samantha Wolfe's (Jr./Columbus, OH) ground ball, which was mishandled by the Crimson Wave's shortstop.

       
Both defenses struggled to make plays as the Panthers struck again for another run in the second inning giving them the early lead, 2-0.  The Crimson Wave would bounce back and capitalize on a Panther miscue to take the game to 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning. 
       
The Panthers, looking to take control of the game, led off the third inning with back-to-back hits by Kylee Crislip (So./Louisville, OH) and Chelsea Archer (So./Thornville, OH).  Both would eventually score as senior Erica Sutter (Mansfield, OH) singled up the middle to give the Panthers the lead 5-1. Calumet again battled back, but the Panthers would hold on to win game one by the final score of 5-4. 
       
Sutter earned the victory for the Panthers, taking her overall record to 6-8.  The Panthers were led offensively by Erin Sutter (So./Mansfield, OH) who was 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.  Crislip added two hits on the day and also scored a run. 
       
In game two, the Panthers handed the ball to junior pitcher Maria Staton (New Bremen, OH) hoping to win the consolation game of the Bethel Invitational.  Staton (11-6) would not disappoint as she was dominating, allowing one hit, in the complete game shutout for the Panthers.  
       
The Panthers offense rattled off a total of eight runs on 13 hits before the game was stopped due to the mercy rule in the fifth inning.  The bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the key for the ODU offense as they were able to score five runs on eight consecutive hits in the inning. 
       
The Panthers were led offensively by Wolfe who was 2-for-2 at the plate and had three RBI.  Jessica Sciacca (So./Pataskala, OH) and Brooke McCartney (Fr./Salem, OH) both went 3-for-3 on the day. Baker and Caitlin Chaney (So./Newark, OH) each added two hits apiece. 
       
The Panthers are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 13th when they take on former AMC foe Shawnee State University in a doubleheader in Portsmouth, Ohio.  Game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.